Wire connector



' Feb. 21, 1939 A, o E ET AL 2,147,706

WIRE CONNECTOR Filed March 17, 1937 ALBfHT OL/l/[Fz KERR.

Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIRE CONNECTOR Application March 17, 1937, Serial No. 131,438 In New Zealand August 14, 1936 4 Claims.

This invention relates to wire connectors, more particularly for connecting fencing wires.

It is well known to farmers, sheep farmers and the like, the difficulty experienced in securing the adjacent ends of fencing wires, when the wires are tensioned by means of a wire strainer, without any extension or slipping of the joined wires after the strainer is removed.

A common method adopted in joining the two adjacent ends of fencing Wire is to hook the end of one wire into a hooked portion in the opposite wire, bend backward the extended loose end and twist it round the portion of the wire beyond the hook. This method of securing the loose ends of fencing wires is not satisfactory, as the twisted wires are inclined to slip causing the fencing wires to sag.

When sheep are confined in a fenced paddock they frequently attempt to pass between the Wires of the fence by impinging or butting against the wires causing an increasing sag or looseness thereof, this action by the animals on the fencing wires ultimately allow them to pass between the wires into an adjacent paddock orinto a road.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a connector, that when secured to the adjacent loose ends of the tensioned wires, will not slip or loosen.

Moreover, the connector is adapted for either plain or barbed wire, and may be used on wires that are longer than necessary.

Furthermore, should a break in one or more of the fencing wires occur, the loose ends may be secured by means of the connector without having to use any extra wire.

The device is neat and compact, has few parts and simple to operate.

The invention is characterized in having a light rod of metal, preferably of steel, of a suitable diameter and length, one end being formed with a loop or eye, the loop portion being offset or inclined to the longitudinal axis of the rod. A collar is provided on the rodv at a suitable distance from either end thereof.

The other end of the rod is provided with a metal plug of a suitable length, having a bore through its longitudinal axis adapting it to be passed onto and free to be slidably moved on the rod, an advantage of a free movement of the plug being that the plug may readily be turned around on the rod into a position convenient to the hands and view of the person using the connector.

The tapered plug is preferably formed semicylindrical along its full length, with parallel sides rising therefrom which terminate in a flat portion; a groove is formed in the semi-cylindrical portion extending the full length of the tapered plug.

A substantial clamping washer is provided having an opening therethrough adapting it to be passed onto the tapered plug. The washer D is formed with a slot which extends from the outer edge to the opening therein, the Washer is likewise formed with a groove in the centre of the semi-cylindrical portion coinciding with the w groove in the tapered plug.

A stop is provided, on the opposite end of the rod to that of the end having the eye, for the outer or large end of the plug to abut against, the stop may be a collar secured to the rod, or 15 the end portion of the rod may be bent to form an eye the end portion being twisted round the rod and welded.

But in order that the invention may be better understood a drawing is appended illustrating 20 the invention, in which:-

Figure 1 shows the connector coupled to a fencing wire.

Figure 2 is a plan of the complete connector showing the tapered plug and clamping washer.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the connector showing the tapered plug and clamping washer in section.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the clamping Washer. 30 Figure 5 is an end elevation of the tapered plug.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the tapered plug.

Referring to the drawing, the metal rod l is formed with a loop or eye 2 at one end thereof, the loop may be formed by bending the end portion of the rod l to form the eye, the remaining portion 3 being twisted round the rod l and preferably welded so as to provide a rigid loop.

The loop or eye portion of the rod l is offset, or lies at an inclination to the longitudinal axis thereof as shown at 4 in Figure 3 of the drawing,

and so makes for easy passing of the fencing wire through the loop and alongside the rod or stem of the connector without having to bend the 5 fencing wire as a preliminary act.

A collar 5 is provided on the rod I secured thereon at a suitable distance from the loop end 2.

A metal tapered plug 6, of a suitable length, is 50 formed with a central bore 1 through its longitudinal axis, adapting it to be passed onto and free to be slidably moved on the rod I.

The tapered plug 6 may be formed semi-cylindrical along its full length as at 8 in Figures 1, 2 55 and 5 of the drawing, the sides 9 being parallel and terminating in a flat portion ID. The semicylindrical portion, sides and fiat portions of the plug 6 are formed with a gradual taper from the large end II to the small end I2.

A groove I3 is formed in the centre of the semicylindrical part 8 of the plug 6, the groove extending the full length of the plug.

A metal clamping washer I4, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, is formed with an opening I5 therethrough, adapting it to be passed easily over the large end I I of the tapered plug 6.

The clamping washer is formed with a slot I6 which extends from the outer edge into the opening I5, and a groove H in the centre of the semicylindrical portion of the opening in the clamping washer opposite the slot I6.

The opposite end of the rod I may be formed with an eye or loop I8 terminating in a collar I9; the collar I9 is for the large end I I of the plug 6 to abut against, or to act as a stop for the plug. The eye or loop I8, at the end of the rod I may be dispensed with, the collar I9 being welded to the rod I.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing in which the fencing wires and 20a are shown tensioned and secured by the connector, the method of operation is as fol1ows:The loose end of the fencing wire 29 is passed through the loop or eye 2 of the connector and twisted or looped round the portion of the rod adjacent the loop 2.

The wire strainer is now brought into action, the gripper ends of which engage the fencing wire 20a at a suitable distance from the looped end I8 of the connector, the hooks or the like on the strainer are brought into engagement with the collar 5 on the rod I and the strainer operated until the requisite tension is given the wires 20 and 20a. The wire 20a may now be secured in the clamping device of the connector by passing the loose end of the wire a into the slot IS in the clamping washer I4 the inner portion being disposed in the groove IS in the tapered plug 5; the clamping washer is now adjusted on the plug 6 until the groove II therein engages with the portion of the fencing wire 26a in the groove I3, the clamping washer is now slidably moved along the tapered plug until it can be moved no further; a portion of the fencing wire Zfia, extending outwardly from the end I2 of the tapered plug, may be turned downwardly.

The wire strainer is now removed, and the end II of the tapered plug will abut on the inner surface of the collar I9. The fencing wire 29a. is now securely wedged in the grooves I3 and I! in the tapered plug 6 and the clamping washer I4.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to claim by Letters Patent is:--

1. A wire connector for joining adjacent ends of fencing wires and the like while under tension consisting of in combination a tapered plug having a central bore through its longitudinal axis, a rod entered through said bore, said rod being substantially longer than the plug and having a loop at one end thereof, a loop at the other end anchored to said rod, said plug having a wire receiving groove in the longitudinal face thereof and a clamping ring slidably mounted on said plug and adapted to clamp a wire in said groove.

2. A wire connector for joining adjacent ends of fencing wires and the like while under tension consisting of a rod, a loop at one end of the rod for receiving and engaging one end of the fencing wire, a loop at the other end of said rod terminating in a collar anchored to said rod, and a wire gripping member freely slidable on said rod and adapted to grip and hold the other end of the fencing wire, said member comprising a tapered plug having its enlarged end facing said collar and having a flat longitudinal face, and a clamping ring slidably mounted on said plug and adapted to clamp a wire between it and said face.

3. A wire connector for joining adjacent ends of fencing wires and the like while under tension consisting of a rod having a loop at each end thereof, the loop at one end being bent to encircle the rod and form a collar, the loop at the other end being adapted to receive and engage one end of the fencing wire, and means to receive and engage the other end of the fencing wire comprising a tapered plug having its enlarged end facing said collar, a bore through the longitudinal axis of the plug adapting it to be slidably mounted on said rod, and a clamping ring slidably mounted on said plug.

4. A wire connector for joining adjacent ends of fencing wires and the like consisting of a rod, a loop at one end of the rod for receiving and engaging one end of the fencing wire, a loop at the other end of said rod, a collar on said rod adjacent said last mentioned loop, a tapered plug slidably mounted on said rod and having its larger end facing said collar, the large end of said plug being smaller than said collar, the periphery of the plug having a substantially wide fiat portion extending from the narrow to the wide end, a groove in the cylindrical portion of the plug diametrically opposite said flattened portion and extending longitudinally of the plug, a U- shaped clamping member slidably mounted on said plug, a groove in said member registering with the groove in the plug, and arms extending inwardly from the sides of the member, said arms engaging against the flat portion of said plug.

ALBERT O. KERR. HENRY H. RIX. 

